Prognostic significance of oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen 3 days after initiation of tocilizumab treatment in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Tocilizumab is effective in treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the specific time point it acts as a valid indicator of treatment efficacy remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the optimal day for assessing the prognostic value of the oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SpO/FiO) and ratio of respiratory rate-oxygenation (ROX) index in patients receiving tocilizumab for COVID-19.

Knockdown of TFAP2E results in rapid G/M transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

TFAP2E is a member of the activator protein-2 transcription factor family and acts as a tumor suppressor in several types of cancer. Downregulation of TFAP2E expression is significantly associated with a shorter overall survival period in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). To evaluate the molecular mechanisms by which TFAP2E suppresses the development or progression of OSCC, the present study investigated the effects of TFAP2E downregulation on OSCC-derived Ca9-22 and HSC-4 cells.

Increasing averaging beats improves the test accuracy on Holter-based late potentials in patients with myocardial infarction.

Background: The prevalence of Holter-based late potentials (H-LPs) in cases of fatal cardiac events has increased. Although the noise level of H-LP is higher than that of conventional real-time late potential (LP) recording, a procedure to reduce the noise severity in H-LP by increasing the averaging beats has not been investigated.

Methods: We enrolled 104 patients with post-myocardial infarction (MI) and 86 control participants.

Diurnal Variation in and Optimal Time to Measure Holter-Based Late Potentials to Predict Lethal Arrhythmia after Myocardial Infarction.

: Holter-based late potentials (LPs) are useful for predicting lethal arrhythmias in organic cardiac diseases. Although Holter-based LPs exhibit diurnal variation, no studies have evaluated the optimal timing of LP measurement over 24 h for predicting lethal arrhythmia that leads to sudden cardiac death. Thus, this study aimed to validate the most effective timing for Holter-based LP testing and to explore factors influencing the diurnal variability in LP parameters.

Aseptic meningitis followed by mononeuritis multiplex in a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

A 38-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of fever and headache. Increased cerebrospinal cell count and protein without evidence of infection led to a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis. Although she improved with acyclovir and glyceol, she experienced left forearm pain and sensory disturbance with drop fingers.

Age-related reference intervals for ambulatory electrocardiographic parameters in healthy individuals.

Background: The advent of novel monitoring technologies has dramatically increased the use of ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) devices. However, few studies have conducted detailed large-scale investigations on the incidence of arrhythmias over 24 h, especially ectopy, in healthy individuals over a wide age range.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of arrhythmias detected using AECG and associated factors, in healthy individuals, over a wide age range.

COVID-19 After Treatment With Direct-acting Antivirals for HCV Infection and Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Case Report.

Background: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from chronic HCV-infected patients could improve liver function and prevent hepatocarcinogenesis in the long term. Eradication of HCV by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) also leads to dynamic immunological changes. We report a case of recurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that developed immediately after combination treatment with DAAs for HCV infection and decompensated cirrhosis.

Successful Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination-related Activation of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Positive Findings for Epstein-Barr Virus.

We herein report a 60-year-old woman who experienced severe flare of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity following administration of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine. Since 40 years old, she had been in long-term remission of anti-citrullinated protein antibody-positive RA. Ten days after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, she presented with a high fever and polyarthritis, active synovitis on joint ultrasound, a clinical disease activity index of 35, and positivity for anti-early antigen, diffuse type and restricted type (EA DR) IgG and EBV deoxyribonucleic acid (EBV-DNA).

Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy After Cardiovascular Catheterization and Intervention With High-Dose Strong Statin Therapy in Japan - The PREVENT CINC-J Study.

Background: Previous studies have reported that high-dose strong statin therapy reduces the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in statin naïve patients; however, the efficacy of high-dose strong statins for preventing CIN in real-world clinical practice remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of strong statin therapy in addition to fluid hydration for preventing CIN after cardiovascular catheterization.

Methods and results: This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial included 420 patients with chronic kidney disease who underwent cardiovascular catheterization.

miRNA‑218 targets multiple oncogenes and is a therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Survivin is overexpressed in various cancers and is correlated with treatment resistance and prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) directly regulate several target genes and are potential therapeutic agents for various cancers. The present study evaluated multiple gene targets of miR‑218, including survivin, in osteosarcoma and compared the anti‑tumor effects of miR‑218 with those of YM155, an anti‑survivin agent.

Combined use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intra-aortic balloon pump after cardiac arrest.

Objectives: We investigated whether intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) combined with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) was associated with favourable neurological outcomes for patients after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Moreover, we evaluated the aetiology of cardiac arrest on the effectiveness of this therapy in a sub-study.

Background: There is insufficient research on the optimal combination of machines for patients after ROSC is not established.

Hospital performance in a large urban acute myocardial infarction emergency care system: Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit network.

Background: An ideal urban network system for improving regional acute myocardial infarction (AMI) outcomes should be geographically balanced and uniform according to regional population in performance of participating hospitals. The objective of our study is to evaluate whether there is a major difference in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality between the Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit (CCU) network hospitals, which cover the whole population of large cities.

Methods: The study subjects were all AMI patients without cardiac arrest on arrival admitted to the Tokyo CCU network hospitals from 2009 to 2017.

Clinical significance of microvessels detected by in vivo optical coherence tomography within human atherosclerotic coronary arterial intima: a study with multimodality intravascular imagings.

The significance of microvessels within atherosclerotic plaques is not yet fully clarified. Associated with plaque vulnerability. The aim of this study is to examine tissue characteristics of plaque with microvessels detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) by use of a commercially available color-coded intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and coronary angioscopy (CAS).

Effect of Rivaroxaban and Clopidogrel Combination Therapy on In-Stent Responses After Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation in a Porcine Coronary Model.

Aim: According to recent clinical trials, a combination of direct oral anticoagulants with antiplatelet drugs is often recommended for atrial fibrillation patients who receive drug-eluting stents (DESs). Although the optimal combination comprises direct factor Xa inhibitors and a P2Y receptor antagonist (or aspirin), their influence on vascular responses to DESs remains unclear.

Methods: Pigs were given either aspirin and clopidogrel (dual antiplatelet therapy [DAPT] group), aspirin and rivaroxaban (AR group), or clopidogrel and rivaroxaban (CR group), followed by everolimus-eluting stent (Promus Element) implantation into the coronary artery.

High Wall Shear Stress Is Related to Atherosclerotic Plaque Rupture in the Aortic Arch of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: A Study with Computational Fluid Dynamics Model and Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy.

Aims: Wall shear stress (WSS) has been considered a major determinant of aortic atherosclerosis. Recently, non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) was developed to visualize various atherosclerotic pathologies, including in vivo ruptured plaque (RP) in the aorta. However, the relationship between aortic RP and WSS distribution within the aortic wall is unclear.

Knockdown of E2F5 induces cell death via the TP53‑dependent pathway in breast cancer cells carrying wild‑type TP53.

E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5) is a member of the E2F family of transcription factors, which are involved in regulation of various cellular processes, including cellular proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and DNA damage response. Previously, we reported that E2F5 was aberrantly overexpressed in estrogen receptor (ER)‑negative breast cancer, especially in triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the present study, it was revealed that E2F5 gene silencing caused a significant reduction in the proliferation rate of breast cancer MCF7 (ER‑positive luminal‑type) and MDA‑MB‑231 (TNBC‑type) cells.

Effect of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin on atherosclerotic lesions in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits: iMap-IVUS and pathological analysis.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have potential as a treatment for atherosclerosis. However, it is unclear whether DPP-4 inhibitors stabilize atherosclerotic plaque or alter the composition of complex plaque. Sixteen Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits aged 10-12 weeks with atherosclerotic plaque in the brachiocephalic artery detected by iMap intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were divided into a DPP-4 inhibitor group and a control group.

Macrophage accumulation within coronary arterial wall in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome: a study with in-vivo intravascular imaging modalities.

Background And Aims: Macrophage accumulation in arteriosclerotic plaque of coronary arteries is involved in plaque destabilization. Atherosclerosis has been known to be progressive in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This study compared the features of 3-dimensional (3D) spatial distribution of macrophage accumulation within coronary artery wall between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with DM (n = 20) and those without (non-DM, n = 20) by using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Polyethylene glycol derivative 9bw suppresses growth of neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood malignancy originating from the sympathetic nervous system, and accounts for approximately 15% of all pediatric cancer-related deaths. As the 5-y survival rate of patients with high-risk NB is <50%, novel therapeutic strategies for NB patients are urgently required. Nonaethylene glycol mono('4-iodo-4-biphenyl)ester (9bw) is a polyethylene glycol derivative, synthesized by modifying a compound originally extracted from filamentous bacteria.

Effect of drug-coated balloon angioplasty on in-stent restenotic coronary lesions analyzed with optical coherence tomography and serial coronary artery angioscopy.

Drug-coated balloon angioplasty (DCBA) has been recognized for its utility in preventing in-stent re-restenosis (ISR); however, imaging of the neointima immediately after treatment and during follow-up has only been described in a few case reports. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and mechanism of the DCBA using imaging studies both immediately after the DCBA and during the follow-up period. We enrolled 15 consecutive patients who underwent DCBA for in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Forced expression of NR4A3 induced the differentiation of human neuroblastoma-derived NB1 cells.

Nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 3 (NR4A3) is a member of the NR4A subgroup of orphan nuclear receptors, implicated in the regulation of diverse biological functions, including metabolism, angiogenesis, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Although many reports have suggested the involvement of NR4A3 in the development and/or progression of tumors, its role varies among tumor types. Previously, we reported that DNA hypomethylation at NR4A3 exon 3 is associated with lower survival rate of neuroblastoma (NB) patients.

Association between High Platelet Reactivity Following Dual Antiplatelet Therapy and Ischemic Events in Japanese Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Stent Implantation.

Aim: Although high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) correlates with long-term adverse outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, the correlation in Japanese patients remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the relationship between platelet reactivity during DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel and 1-year clinical outcomes following successful coronary stent implantation.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter registry study (j-CHIPS) was conducted in patients undergoing coronary stenting and receiving aspirin and clopidogrel at 16 hospitals in Japan.